The Indian Mulberry is not a true mulberry but is instead a member of the Rubiaceae, the same family that contains the coffee plant and the gardenia. It is a small tropical tree that has large, glossy, dark green leaves and small, white flowers. It is widely grown in the tropics for its white, mulberry-like fruits. The fruits are edible and the leaves and fruits are used in a variety of cosmetic and medicinal products. Morinda grows on rocky and sandy beaches and in coastal, tropical forests. It is native to southeastern Asia, Australia and some of the Pacific Islands. It can grow in a variety of soils from sandy and volcanic soils to limestone soils and coral atolls. It is also cultivated as an ornamental plant for its evergreen foliage.